Empirical Research on Prosumers and Evolutionary Transformation of Content Industries

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25590071
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Management
• Research Institution: Bunkyo University (2014-2015); The University of Tokyo (2013)
• Principal Investigator: Kato Ayako 文教大学, 情報学部, 講師 (10597941)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: パターン / 技術変化 / 社会経済システム / 変動 / 生産消費者 / アンケート調査 / UGC / コンテンツ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aims to explain the dynamics of content industries logically and empirically. Such industries can be conceptually explained as socio-economic complex systems that originate from technologies. Defining patterns would help in conducting quantitative analyses of micro structural changes within the systems. On the basis of the conceptual models and the abovementioned patterns, this study administered nationwide questionnaire surveys of consumers' creations and distributions regarding information and content. Using the late-adopter scale, this research analyzes and estimates the diffusion of User-Generated Content (UGC). It is clear that modern-day consumers are exhibiting inclinations toward receiving UGC. This study implies the importance of focusing on individual behaviors enabled by technological advances for understanding the transformation of the socioeconomic systems; accordingly, future research should consider the systems from the viewpoint of user-centric models.

Free Research Field

社会情報学